Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Personally, i think it would be insanity to not want Drej back. BUT, would like clarity on that quickly. If he does come back, I think you can't target a big name like Haralson, unless they're a better outside shooter.

The name id by far want the most (as would everyone in America) is Dailyn Swain. He actually passed it better than i thought this year. If he comes back to college, and hed be walking into a playmaking role with this team, that seems like quite the sell to him with NIL, career growth opportunity, and winning. Just would have to get a true point guard type off the bench for insurance - Cox would obviously be perfect as a backup, but not sure that's realistic.

PG: Dailyn Swain
SG: Quentin Coleman
SF: Andrej Stojakovic
PF: David Mirkovic
C: Tomi Ivisic

Bench:
Z Ivisic
Ty Rodgers
Lucas Morillo
Ethan Brown
Jake Davis

I know all this is early, probably silly to speculate. But what Brad could do for Swain as the primary playmaker...

 

[Joel Goodson]

jake leaving would be grandison-esque

would suck balls, for sure. but if wants more money (than we're willing to offer) and/or more minutes/bigger role...it's possible

I think he stays. but let's not pretend we know how each individual arrives at a decision (mebbe his mom convinces him he's a PG)

 

[joeybcrazy13]

Boz needs a grad degree!!

 

[joeybcrazy13]

 

[Trueblue777]

would suck balls, for sure. but if wants more money (than we're willing to offer) and/or more minutes/bigger role...it's possible

I think he stays. but let's not pretend we know how each individual arrives at a decision (mebbe his mom convinces him he's a PG)

That’s hilarious considering he can’t even dribble

 

[Hambone61]

Is there any news on Toni Bilic who joined the team in January but has not played.
Is he an option for next season or still work in progress???

 

[therealmiket86]

That's about how I'd personally rank it.

Tier 1 priority: Stoj, Mirk, Z, Tomi
And just below them Jake and Ty.

Davis one that I'd be very surprised if he leaves. Absolutely shocked.

Jake played a big role so I would be shocked if he leaves. Ty is a dog who you want on your team I’m just not sure what his role would be. He redshirted 2 years ago for a reason

 

[therealmiket86]

Obviously you’ll never get a value like Wagler again. On the flip side we had a lot of dead money tied up for Petro

 

[therealmiket86]

Not sure how true but I heard Petro got around 750k. With that plus the guys graduating it frees up a good amount of money. Hopefully new money needs flowing into the program

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Not sure how true but I heard Petro got around 750k. With that plus the guys graduating it frees up a good amount of money. Hopefully new money needs flowing into the program

IIRC, here it was said to be 1M+

 

[RichardKeenesCousin]

Well…. At least Gritty waited till the morning after before he started being critical of insiders. I'm sure it was difficult for him to wait that long.

 

[Turn N’ Burn]

In the tournament, Andrej was clearly an X-factor. But something he has to work on if he comes back is his ability to dribble the basketball and to add the ability to drive and kick the ball out. Keaton was that guy for us this year which allowed him to just put his head down and go when he got the ball on the wing/corner but if he is a focal point of the offense moving forward, those two skills really need to become a major part of his overall game.

 

[LvilleILL1]

Will have an update on roster outlook and a bunch of other information later tonight or tomorrow.

Illinois Basketball is in an amazing spot and has a ton of money to work with. Retention, add a couple of high level transfers, and we are looking at a top 5 team next year.

 

[Illini2010-11]

Not sure how true but I heard Petro got around 750k. With that plus the guys graduating it frees up a good amount of money. Hopefully new money needs flowing into the program

Assuming $1M, that is getting paid over $32,000 per point scored or $9,000 per minute played. That was a definite miss, but Wagler was the ultimate win.

Still, we are doing much better than peers in the new landscape, and making the Final Four will make it even better.

 

[aveseaboy]

I’m so invested in everyone on this team I honestly don’t want anyone to leave. I am hopeful of Petro and Lee being stars at Illinois. Probably some hysteria and wishful thinking…

 

[STLini25]

Will have an update on roster outlook and a bunch of other information later tonight or tomorrow.

Illinois Basketball is in an amazing spot and has a ton of money to work with. Retention, add a couple of high level transfers, and we are looking at a top 5 team next year.

My want is two starters: 1) all BT point guard and 2) athletic 6 foot 6 wing who can defend and hit the corner 3. Then Dre, Mirk and Tomi.

 

[bavanga3]

Dude is about to be a Sr, I don't see it. He was at his best as a 6th man curveball in a 3 pt centric O.

Its not my money, but I'd struggle to have him back if he's looking to be a top 3 paid player.

He was our #2 scorer and the momentum changer in the first halves of our final 4 run. He's proven and earned it. And an extra offseason will only make him better.

 

[ColSLU69]

I think the top programs and recruiters replace guys like Bozwell and Keaton as a pair often. I expect Bama, Duke. Houston and Ark along others to do exactly that. Lets see where we are next fall. Plus people just writing off Morillo to be behind Coleman is a bit much. Is Coleman playing on team USA in the World Summit like Morrillo will, Mirk did, the Boozers, Sarr and many high end guys are n did. I think Morrillo is being undervalued.

If we add a guy or two like Juke . Harralson or others that are elite Indy has mentioned i dont think Coleman or Morillo will just be given that role over someone of that caliber. I also think 2 players like that while not individually as good as Wagler, as a pair may be as good as a pair.

If the Illini added Jalen Cox and Juke Harris (via the portal), plus Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo (incoming freshmen), I'd be VERY happy with that guard group for next year's team.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Jake played a big role so I would be shocked if he leaves. Ty is a dog who you want on your team I’m just not sure what his role would be. He redshirted 2 years ago for a reason

Adam Miller says hello

 

[bavanga3]

ChiefGritty The 'cult of denzel' is objectively funny

All it takes is one school blowing their budget on a guy to lose a bidding war (E.g., it's still kind of wild that Morez is making $2M as a 6th man).

I think you're conflating this boards' reckless enthusiasm with the relatively cautious approach the board's insiders take.

Morez as a 6th man?? Laughable. He started, avg'd the 3rd most minutes, 2nd most points, and was the leading rebounder. You're sounding incredulous right now. Not to mention he's a projected first rounder.

 

[STLini25]

Two years getting to Sweet 16, 2024 and 2026, out of six (2019 and 2020 weren't NCAA tourney years for very different reasons). We even have an example of having no freshman starters and still couldn't get to the sweet 16 (2022). I would agree that our more successful years generally didn't feature freshman (2021 where Miller started but had a very defined secondary role, 2022 and 2024), but 2026 was the outlier there. I don't think there's enough to definitively say one way or the other will result in a wasted season.

We are trying to win a national championship next year. Why rely on a freshman who is a very good recruit not a can’t miss talent? Why not bring in 2 proven starters?

 

[IlliniUnited]

Jake played a big role so I would be shocked if he leaves. Ty is a dog who you want on your team I’m just not sure what his role would be. He redshirted 2 years ago for a reason

Seems like a position that can be upgraded.

 

[therealmiket86]

Adam Miller says hello

Adam Miller left because of his mom and the Irvin’s. Jake’s isn’t in a situation like that

 

[rmlsr]

Will have an update on roster outlook and a bunch of other information later tonight or tomorrow.

Illinois Basketball is in an amazing spot and has a ton of money to work with. Retention, add a couple of high level transfers, and we are looking at a top 5 team next year.

 

[WeLoveNoOther]

I’m so invested in everyone on this team I honestly don’t want anyone to leave. I am hopeful of Petro and Lee being stars at Illinois. Probably some hysteria and wishful thinking…

Petro would have to improve by light years to get off the bench. He was a turnover machine and couldn't guard a fence post. I'm still scratching my head on how he was MVP in the adriatic league. Either he gave up trying or it was a complete miss.

Can he improve that much? Maybe. Is he motivated enough to put in the work? I'm much less certain about that.